Eugene V. Debs: Citizen and Socialist (Working Class in American History) [Paperback]

He was dubbed an undesirable citizen by so-called progressive Teddy Roosevelt. The best biography of Debs to date. It shows his working class background and radical roots in his family. You can see his evolution from democrat and trade unionist to socialist and industrial unionist. His frustration with mainstream politics leads to his trade union agitation. The failure of the AFL railroad brotherhoods to work together spurs him on to create an industrial union of all railroad workers called the American Railway Union. While in jailed in Illinois after the Pullman Strike of 1894 is crushed he becomes a socialist. He helps unites the various factions into the Socialist Party of America in 1901. That same year he merges the broken ARU with the Western Federation of Miners to form the American Labor Union, which adopts socialism. He helps form the Industrial Workers of the World in 1905 which seeks to organize all workers into One Big Union. He leaves the IWW when in rejects politics. During WWI while other socialists give in to nationalism he remains militantly anti-war. In 1917 he refuses to support America's enterance into the war and remains undecided on the Russian Revolution. While in prison for trying to subvert the war effort he recieves over a million votes for president. His party disintegrates in dispute between Hawks and Doves, and reformers and revolutionaries. A fascinating story.

Here you will learn about Debbs the union activist and organizer, Debbs the socialist party organizer and Debbs the husband, brother, friend and lover. And you might get the impression that the advocacy and political activity of Debbs must be measured almost exclusively by the impact it had on the unions, the socialist party and his intimates. I had hoped to read more about Debbs' impact beyond these circles. How did the nation look on Debbs, especially during his presidential campaigns? What did the other major and minor party candidates make of him? These questions remain largely unanswered by the books end.

At times, the book treats Debbs' presidential campaigns almost in passing. The campaigns are not treated as events interesting primarily because of the impact they had on the nation. If the US thought Debbs dangerous enough to incarcerate him during WW1, it is difficult to imagine why a history depicting Debbs' larger political and cultural influence would be difficult to produce.

The book describes well how Debbs framed his leftism in an American voice: how he found within the discourse of individualism a foundation for socialism. But, of course, that direction was all but forgotten after the benighted enthusiasm for the Bolsheviks.

"Eugene V. Debs: Citizen and Socialist" shows Eugene Deb's impact on American labor unions and the Socialist movement in America from the 1880s until his death in 1926, tracing his rise from a lowly locomotive paint-scraper to the five-time Socialist Party's presidential candidate. This "native son" combined his American values with socialism to battle against large corporations for "the working man." The author highlights the importance of Debs in American labor history, the complex life that Debs lived, and the journey that took him from democrat and trade unionist to socialist and industrial unionist.
The book is divided into four main sections. The first discusses early life in his home town of Terre Haute, a microcosm of working class towns throughout America. Here he became involved with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, and grew critical of industrial capitalism.
In the second section Debs took part in the Pullman strike and was sentenced to federal prison, where he spent much of his time reading, discussing, and learning about socialism. Upon his release from jail he helped found the forerunner to the Socialist Party of America.
In the third section Debs ran for president five times, the number of votes increasing with each campaign. The section also discusses Debs' greater acceptance of African Americans and women in his ideas for a socialist economy.
The final section sums up Debs' life. Sent to prison again, he ran for president for a fifth time from jail, winning 913,693 votes, the most ever for a Socialist Party candidate and the most votes of his career.
Debs was an impassioned human who fought for what he truly believed in. One issue was the book left me with some questions. What was the American consensus on Debs at this time? Was he seen as a radical trouble maker by the public? Did people sympathize with his ideas but not vote for him in the elections? The author did a fantastic job of painting the support Debs received from the socialist party, but I would have liked a broader view of American sentiment towards him.
This is only a minor complaint in an otherwise very solid read. These issues do not correspond with the main point the author is trying to make, so it makes sense that they were not given much attention. I would recommend this book to someone who wants to learn about Eugene Debs, especially if they are interested in the detailed role he played in the organization of labor unions and the development of the socialist party in America. If someone is looking for a broader view of Debs and the context and role he played in American history, I would say that a different book is a better choice.